PARTICIPANTS GUIDE
Discovering your calling is more than just deciding what you are going to do with your life, it s about who you are going to become. Many people spend their entire lives searching in frustration for what God might want them to do. In 7 Commandments of Your Calling, Pastor Steven Furtick provides a set of practical, Christ-centered principles designed to point you toward the person God is calling you to be. We re praying that as you follow this sevenweek study, you will begin to see the uniquely specific calling God has for you. The Best is Yet to Come, egroups & estudents Staff
Session 1: Thou Shalt Start With Yes Session 2: Thou Shalt Stop Trying Out Session 3: Thou Shalt Work Your Weakness Session 4: Thou Shalt Protect Your Confidence Session 5: Thou Shalt Close Your Mind Session 6: Thou Shalt Fix Your Focus Session 7: Thou Shalt Just Show Up
THOU SHALT START WITH YES
SESSION 1 KEY SCRIPTURES PROVERBS 29:18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom s instruction. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ. And so through him the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God. TEACHING QUOTES Even when God is telling you no, it s because He is protecting you for a bigger yes. If He doesn t give you something, you don t want it God is holding out for you, not on you. REFLECTION QUESTIONS Where is God saying yes in your life? Have you ever ignored God s No and been hurt by your decision? What was God trying to protect you from? PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank you for being a Yes God. You are faithful to your promises. Give me patience as I wait for your best Yes. Amen. #7COMMANDMENTS Use social media to demonstrate Thou Shalt Start With Yes in a creative way on Twitter or Instagram.
TAKE IT HOME DAY 1 READ JOHN 10:10 What will I miss out on if I don t live for God? Following Jesus doesn t mean that you will miss out on all the fun in life. You have a spiritual enemy who wants you to believe God is keeping you from experiencing all the joys the world has to offer. However, Jesus doesn t just promise us eternal life in Heaven, but a full life on Earth, a life full of things you can t acquire anywhere else, such as peace, joy, and purpose. Your biggest worry shouldn t be what you re missing out on by following Jesus, but what you would miss out on by not following Jesus. Name a few things you would miss out on if you weren t following Jesus. DAY 2 READ EPHESIANS 5:1-2 We are called to be like Christ, not to be Christ. You re not perfect. And guess what? That s one of the best things about you. Imperfections don t make you less of a person; they actually offer more opportunities for Jesus to transform you. God has a calling for you and He is always shaping and molding you according to His plans for you. Don t get discouraged if you struggle with something today, the Christian life isn t a project you can complete and move on from. It s a process you participate in every single day. And the more you strive to live like Jesus, the more He will make you like Him. What are some of your habits that don t look like Jesus? What habits can you develop to begin to live more like Jesus?
DAY 3 READ JAMES 1:17 You have a God that loves to say yes to His children. If you believe in Jesus, you are considered a child of God. And you should know this about your Heavenly Father, He loves to give gifts to His children. Some people give gifts with ulterior motives, striving to get something from you in return. God has no agenda in blessing you He simply wants a relationship with you. Look around your life today. Everything good you see can be counted as a gift from God. Write about a time when God gave you a gift at the perfect time. Then write a prayer thanking Him for his continued blessings and provision. NOTES
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THOU SHALT STOP TRYING OUT
SESSION 2 KEY SCRIPTURE JEREMIAH 1:4-5 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. TEACHING QUOTES I called you to do what I assigned you to do, before you were even here. Make the decision that if God approves of me that s all that matters. REFLECTION QUESTIONS Read Jeremiah 1:4-5. What does this passage say about how God chooses people? Do you believe God has appointed you? PRAYER Jesus, thank you that you have already chosen me and that I don t have to do anything to gain your approval. Help me to walk in the knowledge that I am approved by you this week. Give me the boldness to stand out and let my faith shine this week. Amen. #7COMMANDMENTS Share a statement on social media about how God has already chosen you using the hashtag #7Commandments.
TAKE IT HOME DAY 1 READ MATTHEWS 5:16 You don t have to produce light, just let the light shine. When Jesus changes you, people notice. Sometimes, people aren t as excited about these changes as you are. That s okay. Your calling comes from God, not anyone else. It s wise to listen to the advice of those who love you and want what s best for you, but you should never hide what God is doing in your life to please someone else. Instead, if you embrace your calling and treat people with love and grace, the light of Jesus will shine from within you and the results will speak for themselves. Write a way that you believe Jesus has changed you. How will people notice the difference in you? DAY 2 READ GALATIANS 1:10 There are a lot of you who are letting the opinions of others become your obsession. It s easy to say that you don t care what people think. It s much harder to actually shake the lingering frustration of knowing someone s disapproval of you. Thankfully, Jesus, the only One whose opinion never change, has already decided that He approves of you, loves you and delights in you. But you can only aim to please Him. The more you care about what your friends think of you, the less you care about what God thinks of you. Make the choice to seek after only God s affirmation today. Whose opinion matters the most to you? List the names of people whose approval you find yourself seeking. Which of these people want God s best for you?
DAY 3 READ PROVERBS 4:18 & JOHN 8:12 Stop fitting in when God has called you to shine. As a follower of Jesus, you are the light in a dark world. That makes you different. And that s exactly how God wants it. So much of your life will be spent fighting the desire to fit in with those around you. But you carry something others don t have: Jesus. That doesn t make you better; it just makes you shine a little brighter. And through grace and love, you can bring light to those who have never experienced it before. Write a few things you do differently from your friends that makes you stand out. NOTES
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THOU SHALT WORK YOUR WEAKNESS
SESSION 3 KEY SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. TEACHING QUOTES Thou shalt work your weakness, not work on your weakness. Our strength comes from struggle. REFLECTION QUESTIONS What s the difference between working on your weakness and working your weakness? How have you experienced Christ making you stronger in the midst of your struggles? PRAYER Jesus, help me to use my struggles as an encouragement to those I am around this week. Thank you for your grace. Amen. #7COMMANDMENTS Use the hashtag #7Commandments to share one of your favorite quotes from this week s video.
TAKE IT HOME DAY 1 READ ISAIAH 64:8 [Your calling doesn t always line up with what you see in you.] Disappointment, betrayal, and grief are all painful reminders that something did not turn out as expected. There are times when what you dreamed, hoped and planned for does not happen. But the beauty of your calling is that God has a plan infinitely greater than your mind could comprehend. Nothing can stop you when you learn that surrendering your desires for His calling is an act of worship that will always realign you with His will for your life.. Think about a time that you have experienced disappointment. Write about how God used that disappointment as an opportunity to strengthen your faith. DAY 2 READ 2 CORINTHIANS 11:30 We impress people with our strengths, but connect through our weaknesses. Pastor Craig Groeschel Many of us fear that if people really knew our struggles, they d never accept us. But God already knows our struggles. And He already accepts us. Not only that, but He knows everyone else s struggles, too. And He longs to connect us to other people who have either been through or are going through some of the same things as we are. When you take the step to share your weaknesses with someone, you give God an opportunity to use your struggles as a way to connect with and encourage someone else. Write a prayer to God asking Him to give you the courage to share a specific weakness with a friend.
DAY 3 READ PSALM 34:17 Some of the greatest times you ll know Him are when you can t figure anything out, and now you know you desperately need Him. Life can overwhelm you with a bad doctor s report, a divorce, or a failed relationship. You can feel helpless, as though you can t find God in these circumstances. These are the times you need to seek God the most. He sees your tears, He hears your frustration, and He wants to meet you where you are. Draw near to Him. What is overwhelming you right now? Take a moment to ask, and appeal to Him for help. NOTES
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THOU SHALT PROTECT YOUR CONFIDENCE
SESSION 4 KEY SCRIPTURE 2 TIMOTHY 1:13-14 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. TEACHING QUOTES If the enemy can t take away your calling he will try to affect your confidence in your calling. He can t stop God from having great plans for you, but he can stop you from believing God has great plans for you. The closer to God that you become, the less your circumstances affect your faith. REFLECTION QUESTIONS Read Jeremiah 29:11. How does this truth help transform the way you respond to the enemy s attack? James 4:8 says, Come near to God and He will come near to you. What is one way you can commit to drawing closer to God this week? PRAYER Jesus, I am grateful that you believe in me so much that you entrust me with value and purpose. Give me strength to protect my confidence in whom I know you created me to be. #7COMMANDMENTS Help one of your friends protect their confidence by encouraging them via social media.
TAKE IT HOME DAY 1 READ EPHESIANS 2:10 The devil can t steal your calling. God had plans for you before you were born and He designed you to fulfill certain purposes. The enemy doesn t like that. Fortunately for you, the enemy can t take your calling from you. But he can plant seeds of doubt and discontentment in an attempt to steal your joy. By stealing your joy, the enemy can get you to give up on God s plans for you. So the more confident you are in your calling, the less likely you will be to give it away. Look around. It may not make complete sense, but there is a purpose for where you are today. God has a plan set aside for you and today is preparing you for exactly that. Write down one way the enemy attempts to derail you from your calling? DAY 2 READ JAMES 4:8 The closer to God that you become, the less your circumstances affect your faith. The situations you experience every day, good or bad, affect your attitude. When we consistently experience tough circumstances, our tendency may be to withdraw or become removed. But in your loneliest moments God sticks closer than any friend ever could. And He issues one simple command that comes with an everlasting promise: draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. It s that simple. The closer you are to God, the less power your circumstance has over you, no matter how difficult it becomes. Write about a circumstance where you remember doubting God s faithfulness. How did He prove faithful in the end?
DAY 3 READ ROMANS 8:37 The greater the calling becomes, the greater the attack will escalate. God has placed a valuable calling in you and the enemy does not like it. The enemy will take every opportunity to try to beat you down. He cannot defeat you, but he will stop at nothing to destroy your confidence. To protect your calling, you must arm yourself for battle. But remember, in Christ the victory is already yours. Just keep fighting. Write out a prayer asking God to protect you against the attacks of the enemy. Search the Bible for Scripture about being victorious in Christ and write them out. NOTES
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THOU SHALT CLOSE YOUR MIND
SESSION 5 KEY SCRIPTURE MARK 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. TEACHING QUOTES Not everything about God is able to be explained, that is why it takes faith. Open your heart, but in some cases, it s best to close your mind. REFLECTION QUESTIONS How does the reality that God is beyond our human understanding change how you approach Him? How can you close your mind, but still stand up for what you believe in? PRAYER Jesus, give me the discernment to know when to listen and when to close my mind. Help me find the strength to walk by faith in all of my circumstances, even when I don t have all the answers. Amen. #7COMMANDMENTS This week s social media challenge requires less action and more restraint. Inevitably, controversial topics come up on social media. Take a week and refrain from getting involved in any of these discussions.
TAKE IT HOME DAY 1 READ ROMANS 12:2 Open your heart, but in some cases, close your mind. We re constantly bombarded by voices from the media and other sources. However, we can t automatically accept what we hear as truth. Learning how to filter through and tune out these noises is one of your strongest weapons against the enemy. Transform the way you think and renew your mind by focusing on what God says is true. What are some noises you are listening to that you should tune out? How can you begin to filter the truth of God from the voices of the world? DAY 2 READ MARK 12:31 & ROMANS 10:4 Sometimes we protest principles without loving people, but the very thing that Jesus came to save was people, not principles. Though we may disagree with someone else s opinions, values, or morals, our love for them should surpass any of our differences. Do not get caught being legalistic about what the law says, because through Christ the law was fulfilled. The systems of the world and all opinions will one day not exist. The love of Jesus on the other hand, will never fade. Strive to live a life overflowing with abundant love that includes not just your friends, but also those you disagree with. Write down the name of someone in your life that you need to show Christ s love to, despite your differences. What is one step you can take towards that today?
DAY 3 READ DEUTERONOMY 29:29 & ROMANS 15:4 The proof that I have that God s Word is true is what Jesus has done in my life. The Bible is infallible, timeless and sharper than a double-edged sword. You will never receive a greater weapon than God s Word. We have Scripture so we can have hope and be equipped for our God-given purposes. And while many scholars have historical evidence to prove the authority of the Bible, sometimes, the greatest proof of God s Word is what Jesus has done in our lives. No one can dispute the way Jesus has changed you. Write down one example of something in your life that proves what the Bible says is true. NOTES
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THOU SHALT FIX YOUR FOCUS
SESSION 6 KEY SCRIPTURE PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. TEACHING QUOTES What you focus on in your life tends to magnify and multiply. When we begin to grumble about the gifts that God gives, we miss great opportunities for gratitude. REFLECTION QUESTIONS How can you shift your focus from circumstances and feelings to God s promises? What areas of your life do you find yourself complaining about that you need to start being grateful for? PRAYER Jesus, thank you that I have the ability to choose what I focus on. Help me to remember that in every situation I can fix my focus and understand my situations differently. Amen. #7COMMANDMENTS Creatively share this week s commandment on fixing your focus via social media.
TAKE IT HOME DAY 1 READ PHILIPPIANS 3:13 If we focus on our past, we ll never get there. Naturally it is easy to dwell on the past rather than be proactive and positive about the future. But when you focus on the mistakes you made, you are more likely to miss your future. Instead, keep your focus on what God is doing right now. Acknowledge the past, but embrace the present. God has trusted you with a unique calling one that dwells in the present and moves you into the future. What do you need to let go of in your past? What can you focus on doing with all your heart, for God s glory today? DAY 2 READ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 Sometimes we get so focused on our last failure that we miss the opportunity to walk in faith in the present moment. You always mess it up You slipped up last time, you ll slip up again You can never do anything right Sound familiar? Everyday, we are bombarded with thoughts about our past mistakes. These thoughts may never go away completely, but they don t have to control our future. No matter what thoughts are knocking you down today, make a decision to get back up. Learn how to move past your mistakes and get back up. Keep trying. Keep pressing forward. What are some of the mistakes that you ve allowed to keep you down? Write out a prayer accepting God s grace and asking for His help to move forward.
DAY 3 READ LUKE 6:38 As you magnify the blessing of God, it will multiply it in your life. You have the ability to choose thankfulness every day. The Lord is always covering you in blessings, but recognizing them is your choice. Some days, blessings are hard to find. But on those days, if you intentionally choose to be thankful, you will not only start to see His blessings all around you but you will also watch them multiply. Focus on the good today and you ll be surprised to see how many blessings are magnified. Write a list of things you are thankful for today. When you think you are done, write five more. NOTES
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THOU SHALT JUST SHOW UP
SESSION 7 KEY SCRIPTURE ISAIAH 55:1 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. TEACHING QUOTES You will be surprised what God can do in and through your life if you will just be consistent. God s ultimate goal is not to get you somewhere, but to make you someone. REFLECTION QUESTIONS Why do you think God values our consistency and commitment? What is your reaction to the reality that God cares more about who you are than what you can accomplish? PRAYER Thank you for your unconditional love that covers me whether I am in the spiritual mountain peaks or the low valleys. Help me to commit to showing up every day. Amen. #7COMMANDMENTS On social media, share a quote from any 7 Commandments of Your Calling teaching that has made an impact on the way you will now pursue your calling.
TAKE IT HOME DAY 1 READ 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 This is not a project, this is a purpose. If you embrace the process of becoming who God created you to be, you will experience joy while developing your character. Don t rush past the process to simply gain the achievement. You have the opportunity to become more and more like Christ, but you will never attain perfection in this pursuit. So celebrate and enjoy the process. On the next page, write about a project that you were glad to finally complete. What was your favorite part of working on that project? DAY 2 READ DEUTERONOMY 6:5 & 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 Sometimes we make living for God much more complicated than what God intended it to be. Following Jesus is simpler than you think. Sometimes we fall into the trap of believing this means following a long, complicated list of rules. But that s not true. All God really wants is for us to love Him. When you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, the rest comes naturally. Loving God will teach you how to love people, love others, and live with a purpose. Give it a shot. Don t make living for God difficult, just show up. Journal about a time when you made living for God more complicated than it needed to be. What did you learn?
DAY 3 READ HEBREWS 11:1 & LUKE 9:23 Faith is not a feeling. Faith is a decision you make to follow Christ wherever He leads. Emotions come and go. Your feelings about people, situations, or even about God, can always fluctuate. But God never does. Find comfort in the permanence of faith. When you gave your life to Christ you decided to live knowing you would trust God with the unknown, with the good days and the bad. As you wake up and choose to believe in God each morning, you recommit to living by faith. When circumstances attempt to sway your belief, remember that your unchanging, unfaltering God will always remain. Write a short prayer telling God you will follow Him wherever He leads, even when you don t fully understand. NOTES
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